Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Chapter summary
The ARGUMENT.
THE Wiſe man in this Chapter, that he may bring up the hearts of theſe, who i… Gods way are upon a ſearch after True Happineſs, to a ſubmiſsion unto, and contentment with the changes that may be in their Lot, and draw them off from ſeeking Happineſs in Earthly delights. As alſo to inſtruct them in obſerving the right time of all their actions, affordeth for theſe ends ſo many convincing conſiderations or Arguments, As, 1. That the time of All events (whether mediat, caried on by the voluntary actions of men, or immediat that fall out in Gods holy Providence) is in Gods hand, ver. 1. which is amplified and inſtanced in fourteen couple of diſtinct Events, which moſt ordinarly fall out, ver. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. all which are linked together in pairs as deſerving a joint conſideration. 2. That there is no true profit in that vexing and weariſome pains which a man takes to make up to himſelf a Happineſs in earthly things: ver. 9. 3. That God hath inevitably impoſed upon all the ſons of men this ſore travel to wreſtle thorow many viciſſitudes in their Lot, ver. 10. 4. That the Lords deſign in all theſe changes is, that men may be ſutably exerciſed with Humility, Submiſſion, Mortification and Thankſgiving under them, ver. 10. 5. That God hath made every thing (both grievous and joyful) beautiful in its ſeaſon, Though moſt mens hearts be ſo plagued, that they cannot diſcern the mind of God therein, ver. 11. 6. That the higheſt profit of the moſt beautiful and favourable diſpenſations of God to man, is to quicken him to the duties of ſpiritual joy, diligence in Holineſs, and the chearful and ſober uſe of the Creatures; which right improvement; as it …s the true good of Gods diſpenſations in this life, and beſt portion and fruit he can reap by them, ſo is it a ſingular gift of God, ver. 12.13. 7. That all the Lords diſpenſations as to his purpoſed effects, ends, and Timing of them, are permanent and unchangable, and therefore are to be acquieſced in and ſubmitted to, ver. 14. 8. That all Gods Works, upon ſuppoſition of his decrees, and in reſpect of man whoſe wit and power is but ſhort, and on conſideration of their holy ends, are abſolutely perfect and compleat, and ſo not to be murmured againſt, ver. 14. 9. That man being ſo abſolutely at Gods diſpoſal ought to exerciſe himſelf with a Holy and Reverential fear before him, under all the turnings of Providence in his Condition, and thereby attain to True Contentment with it. ver. 14. 10. That the ſaddeſt Diſpenſations the Lords People are, or can be under, are no other for ſubſtance, efficient cauſe, and holy ends, than the Saints have formerly been exerciſed with; whatever difference there may be in regard of ſome circumſtances and inſtruments; ver. 15. 11. That God in due time will inquire after, and in his own way avenge the injuries done to his oppreſſed and perſecuted People, which may contribute much to quiet their hearts under their ſaddeſt troubles: ver. 15. 12. That however the Saints oft times get not fair juſtice from men in place and power upon earth, yet there is a ſet and fixed time wherein God will paſs righteous judgement, abſolving, and rewarding the Righteous, and condemning and avenging upon the Wicked the wrongs done to His People, and reverſing their unjuſt ſentences againſt them, ver. 16.17. 13. That Gods holy purpoſe and end in permitting Wicked men to have that power, and truſt in the World, which they abuſe to injuſtice and perſecution of the Godly is, That they may be diſcovered both to themſelves and others to be that which they were not known to be while they wanted fit opportunities to ſhow their Wickedneſs; And that they themſelves may ſee how nearly as to their diſpoſition and carriage, eſpecially their preying upon the Poor, they do reſemble the very beaſts of the feild, ver. 18. And to convince ſuch unjuſt and oppresſing Rulers of their Brutiſhneſs, Solomon doth illuſtrate and amplify the reſemblance between Them and Beaſts, in regard that the like accidents and occurrances to interrupt their Works of injuſtice, and deprive them of the delight they have in Earthly things, do befall them with the Beaſts, ver. 19. That they are both equally Subject to death, having one and the ſame Vital breath or Animal life, in regard of which they have not preeminence above the Beaſts, which he further confirms by a general aſsertion of the Vanity of all created things, ver. 19. And that they and the beaſts alſo, are all in a motion and tendency the ſame way, to wit, toward Corruption and the ſtate of the Dead; Both man as to his Body, and the Beaſt being of the ſame mettall and matter, even the duſt, and ſo both muſt be diſſolved into duſt again, ver. 20. And 14. That though cruelly, oppreſſion and ſenſuality in men doth make them much to reſemble Beaſts, yet in regard of the better part the immortal Soul, they have the preeminence of the Beaſts, which duly conſidered may divert them from ſeeking Happineſs in things common to them with Beaſts, and move them to ſubmit to any condition of life that may be ſubſervient to the good of the Immortal Spirit, ver. 21. And then from all theſe conſiderations the Wiſe man draws a certain Concluſion, That the higheſt Happineſs attainable in this Life, is a chearfull and ready following of the Duties of Piety toward God, and Righteouſneſs toward Men, even under all the viciſſitudes of a mans Lot: This being the beſt Portion he is capable to enjoy within time: And ſeing he muſt once Leave, and not return again (after Death) to the beholding or enjoying of theſe outward things, It is therefore His Wiſdom to improve all his outward comforts as incouragments to a willing and chearful obedience to God, ver. 22. From all which it is evident that a man is not to ſeek or expect True Felicity in any outward enjoyments, But in the favour of God through Chriſt Jeſus, and following of his Duty in obedience to the Command of God; And in a ſubſerviency to this, is obliged to ſtudy a ſilent and conſcientious ſubmiſsion unto, and contentment with all the times and various providences, that paſs over him in the World.